The Heydar Aliyev Foundation organizes a traditional festivity for children

On December 29,
the Heydar Aliyev Foundation organized a traditional festivity at Buta Palace
for children, on the eve of the World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day and the New
Year holidays.

First
Vice-president of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev
Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva, her grandchild, Vice-president of the Heydar
Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva, and Arzu Aliyeva attended the festivity.

Children arrived
at the venue where the festivity had to take place by specially allocated
buses. A fairy-tale-like environment was created for the children in a place
decorated to special taste and placed at children’s disposal, in order to
please children. Following First Vice-president Mehriban Aliyeva’s initiative,
each year, on the eve of the World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day and the Ney Year
holidays, festivities are arranged for children from children homes, boarding
schools, and for those in need of special care. This tradition was maintained
this year too.

The festivity
started by a show of a video footage about the meetings of national leader
Heydar Aliyev, President Ilham Aliyev and President of the Heydar Aliyev
Foundation Mehriban Aliyeva with children, and care and attention shown by them
towards children.

A programme
prepared in a new arrangement was presented to festivity participants.

First
Vice-president Mehriban Aliyeva shared children’s joy, and had sincere
conversation with them.

First
Vice-president Mehriban Aliyeva addressed the festivity:

- Respected
teachers, dear parents and children. It’s been over ten years that we have been
bidding farewell to the ending years, welcoming the upcoming ones. I am very
glad we are again together.

The New Year
holiday is one of the most favourite holidays. Traditionally, people celebrate
this holiday together with their family members, relatives and friends. We too
are celebrating today the New Year holiday as a great close family.

I am hopeful the
year 2017 was successful for each of you, and for the whole Azerbaijani people.
Construction and renovation works are continuing in our country, and our
cities, villages and regions are becoming more beautiful, and developing. As
you know, the year 2017 was declared “The Year of Islamic Solidarity”.
Azerbaijan has been a part and parcel of the Islamic world. We have been
showing great respect and attention towards our religion, history, and culture.
At the same time, our country is open to the world. We are willing to build our
cooperation with other states on the basis of brotherhood and mutual respect.
As you know, this year, the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games took place in our
capital with great success, in which our sportsmen gladdened us repeatedly,
raising our flag and making our anthem be performed. At the same time, these
Games became a true holiday of solidarity, bringing together representatives of
all Islamic countries, turning into the celebration of true friendship and
brotherhood.

In 2017, very
important projects for not only Azerbaijan, but also of regional importance
were implemented. As you know, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway was commissioned
into operation, the second phase of the “Contract of the Century” was signed,
to be effective until 2050. Works in other areas are continuing. We have been
solving issues facing us in a consistent fashion, removing problems. Construction
and renovation of new schools, kindergartens are continuing in our country. All
necessary conditions have been created in the country to make sure that
children receive high-level education. Baku is growing more beautiful
day-by-day. Our regions are becoming more beautiful, new roads are built, the
country is flourishing.

I am hopeful the
year 2017 will remain in your memory with pleasant moments, and events full of
joy. I am hopeful this year was successful for you. I wish all of you sound
health, successes, and happiness in 2018. I wish our children to be brought up well-educated.
I wish them to treat their friends, relatives and all those around them with
good will and respect. May your path be open, hearts full of light! I
congratulate all of you from the bottom of my heart on the upcoming World
Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day and New Year.

Dear children,
you should also know that a lot of people have made their contribution to
arranging this festivity. It’s been over 10 years that our famous artists,
musicians have been celebrating together with you the New Year in this
beautiful Buta Palace, creating for you very nice and joyful environment. Let’s
welcome these nice and kind people together, and express our gratitude to them.

I congratulate
each of you once more from the bottom of my heart, and wish you sound health,
happiness, and peace to our country. May God always protect each of you and our
country! Thank you very much.

X X X

At the end of
the festivity, each participant was presented a holiday gift from the Heydar
Aliyev Foundation.